Holddown apparatus for freight cars and the like



52%. H7, 1929. G. c. FEDDERMAN 1,739,893

-HOLDDOWN APPARATUS FOR FREIGHT CARS AND THE LIKE Filed March 8, 1929 I72 Mania/ 3.67%ddermara 5' M, %m WMMM {PM ATTORNEYS plate,

Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITE GEORGE C. FEDDERMAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO AUTO LOADING DEVICE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHI- GAN HOLDDOWN APPARATUS FOR FREIGHT CARS AND THE LIKE Application filed March 8,

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view substantially on line 4% of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a part of the plate and with the shank of the hook in section.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of floor plate. 7

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 6.

In the drawings 1 is the car floor. To this is secured by bolts 2 a perforated plate 3 to which the hold down hooks t are detachably connected in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

This plate is raised slightly above the car floor and rests upon side bars 5 which are bent so that they are elevated slightly above the car floor at their middle portions.

A bottom plate 7 extends between the side bars on the undersides thereof and this plate likewise is elevated above the floor of the car at itsmiddle portion. cross bar 6 extends from side to side of the floor plate under the elevated middle portion thereof and thus forms a support for the elevated middle portion of the floor the side bars and the bottom plate. The bolts go through the floor plate, side bars, bottom plate, and through the cross bar 6 as shown. The bottom plate inclines downwardly from its elevated middle portion to its ends which rest on the car floor so that any dirt or other material passing through the openings 8 in the floor plate 3 will be caught by the thin bottom plate and by reason of its inclined relation from its middle portion in opposite directions towards the car floor, the

1929. Serial No. 345,467.

dirt or other material will pass down these inclined surfaces and the car floor. This discharging action will be due to the jar and vibration resulting from the motion of the car along the tracks. In this way the floor plate will be automatically cleared of material which would otherwise clog the space beneath it and obstruct the openings 8 through which the hold down devices are inserted.

It will be noticed that sufiicient space is left between the perforated floor plate 8 and the thin bottom plate 7 which latter is imperforate for the reception of the enlarged heads of the detachable hold down devices and for the passage of the dirt or other material to the ends of the floor plate. The bottom plate is'quite thin, its only purpose being to catch the floor plate 3 and deflecting it from beneath the same. The whole plate structure lies close to the floor and offers little or no obstruction to the use of the car in shipping goods other than automobiles, whether in bulk or otherwise.

I do not limit myself to the floor plate of the bent form described. The incline of the perforated plate also aids in keeping the openings clear of accumulated material because it will constantly tend to shed the ma-- terial from its surface.

The floor plate is adapted to receive the hold down devices in a plurality of positions. For this purpose according to the form shov. n in Figs. 1 to 4, the floor plate is provided with openings of generally key-hole shape, having a narrow portion 8 merging into an en larged circular portion 8".

the material passing through will be discharged onto ,In one form the detachable'hold down device comprises a flat plate member having a hook portion 9, a shank 10 and a head 11. The latter is formed by projections 11 extending laterally from the shank, at each side or edge of the latter. I

This head is adapted to be slipped into the openings 8 by making the head register with ing in the same direction, i. e. with their the narrow part of the keyhole opening in narrow portions in the same vertical plane the plate, and then the head is slipped along and on the same side of their respective cirthe opening so that one of its projections will cular openings. 5 lodge under the edge of the circular portion The holes of the next row 6 are arranged of the plates opening. at right angles to those of the row just men- This will locate the shank of the hook tioned, and are alternately reversed in remember in the circular opening of the keyspect to each other. The holes of row 0 eX- hole formation and then the hook member tend in the same direction relative to each 10 is turned 90 to make its other projection other, but are reversed in respect to the openalso interlock with the plate, both projections ingsof row a. Row 03 is like row 6 as to now underlying the plate at the circular openthe disposition of its openings and row a is ing, and securely holding the hook member like row a. so long as it is maintained in the position This differential relation of the attaching 15 just stated to which it has been turned. means of the floor plate may be carried out The hook member is made from flat metal. in o her ways. For instance, as shown in The hook portion is broad'and the shank Fig. 6 instead of having openings to receive and head are relatively narrow. The projechooks and inakin these. attaching m'eans, tion at th h ad xt nd in the sam l n i. e. the openings, Face in different directions ,20 in which the shank and plate portion of the: the kS h ms lves of th form shown at device lie flatwise. The hook member can m y be p manently attached tO'the floor be made cheaply by cutting it out of sheet plate d a in diiielent directions. metal and then b ndin th upper fi t l t This differential facing of the attaching 1 portion over to form the'hook. .This hook 1 8, Wh her these be 0 enings or perma 25 is slightly curved .so as to receive the curved nently attached hooks, enahles the floor plate ross bar 12 ,01. U shaped nember to be used dOVVIl members, l. e. the 12. This is provided with a cross bar 13 at Shaped m s fa ing in different direcits per ends between its screw thread d tions according to the position on the vehicle id b i t 14 id d h b to Which the tie must extend and the direc- 30 the tie member may be attached to a suitable $1011 111 Whichit must face? in Order to make part of the vehicle COIIIIBCtiOIl therewith. The hook portion of the hook member is The holes Permanently attached hooks slightly curved so that the U shaped tie meman e nl y numerous to meet y Variety ber may have rocking movement relatively of conditions that must lne 35 thereto in its own plane, and of course it lVhlle I Prefer to p y the Slots in the is free to have pivotal movement in said hook floor Plate of yform, it Will be underi plane t i ht angles t th plane i stood that other forms of holes may be used whi h th l t ti f id h k Hes which will permit the insertion and removal hen the parts are assembled the U shape of the h h member tie down member in 40 tie member having been attached to the veone Poslhlon, and will k the S me when hicle and therefore being held against turnthrned t another Position ing movement about its own axis will serve 1 to maintain the hook member against ro- In apparatus for holding h 1'11 tary movement in the enlarged or circular fs F floorrlate, having a plurality 45 ti f th k h 1 l t I th Words, of similar attaching means but facing in varih th parts are i use th ti member l ous directions, and tie means for detachable hold the hook member in locked position with Connection therewith its lateral projections extending under the In apparatus of the class described, edge of the circular opening of the key-hole 9 P Perforated for detachnhly 50 slot, it being noted that-in order to remove celvlng Vehicle holding means, a bottom Plate the hook member from the floorplate it must beneath, inclined downwardly and Spaced be turned so that its shank and-projections apart from the floor Plate, and means register with the narrow portion of the keytanning the Plates to a floor, the Said hole, and the hook member cannot be turned Q Plate automatically discharging mateto this position so long as the U shaped tie r131 P g through the enfolated n00! member remains attached to the vehicle. Plate to a Position to leave t e Perforation in O ly by tti th U h d ti mb or the floor plate clear'for the insertion of the otherwise releasing it can the hook member Vehicle holding m ans, Substantially as debe freed for turning into position for its sc i e 60 removal from the perforated floor plate. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which The key-hole slots in the floor plate extend the bottom plate inclines in opposite direcin different directions. tion from the middle region of the perforated -I have shown as illustrative of any desired plate. differential arrangement that these key-hole 4. Apparatus'according to claim 2 in which slots extend with all those in one row facboth the perforated plate and its spaced apart supports bottom plate incline in opposite directions from the middle portion of said plates, substantially as described.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which both the perforated plate and the bottom plate are inclined relative to the car floor, substantially as described.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the bottom plate is elevated at its middle portion and a support at said middle portion.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which side bars are interposed between the perforated plate and bottom plate, and a cross bar the bottom plate and side bars elevated at their middle portions from which point said side bars and bottom plate incline downwardly to their opposite ends.

8. In apparatus for holding vehicles in freight cars, a floor plate having a plurality of similar attaching means facing in various directions and substantially as 9. Apparatus for holding vehicles in freight cars comprising a floor plate having a key hole slot, a hook member having a shank and a head, the latter having lateral projections of a thickness topass through the narrow portion of the slot for the insertion or removal of the hook member, the shank of said book being turnable in the circular portion of said slot to lock the hook in place with its projections engaging below the edge of the circular portion of the key-hole slot.

10. A hold down hook of sheet metal havdescribed.

1 ing a broad hook portion, a reduced fiat shank,

in the same plane as the body portion of the hook, and lateral projections extending from the edges of the flat shank and in the plane thereof, substantially as described.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a floor plate having a key-hole slot, a hook having projections to pass through the slot and when turned to interlock under the edge of the enlarged portion of said slot,'and a tie member detachably engaging the hook and having means for attachment to the'vehicle, said tie member when so attached holding the hook member against turning to such position ielative to the slot to permit its removal thererom.

I 12. In apparatus of the class described, a floor plate having means to permit the attachment of said hold down thereto when in one position and to lock said hold-down in place when turned to another position, and means for attaching the hold-down to the vehicle and to prevent it from being turned to the position first mentioned, at which said holddown may be removed.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a floor plate having a key hole slot, a hold down member insertible into and removable from said slot when turned into a certain position relative thereto, and to lock in said slot when turned to another position, and means for consisting of key-hole slots,

of the class described, a

a noncircular opening, a 

